A petition has been filed in Peshawar High Court, which challenges the recent increase in highway tax taxes and argues that the move is illegal and puts an unreasonable burden on commuters.
The petition presented by lawyer Asif Ali Shah and others from Charsadda names the federal government, National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Ministry of Communications as respondents.
The petitioners claim that the government’s decision to impose a 100% road tax on vehicles without M-tag is illegal.
The toll increase, which was notified on January 31, will follow two previous increases in 2024, which raised the Charsadda-Peshawar road tax from the RS30 to RS40 and then to RS60.
The petition claims that the government must focus on facilitating citizens rather than introducing further financial burden.
The court has been invited to suspend the toll riding until a final decision is made.
Postal tax for tourists in GB suggested
Previously, the Federal Minister of Privatization, Investment Council and Communication, Abdul Aleem Khan, held separate meetings with CM of GB, Yellow Bar Khan and Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Khazar Farhadov.
Both meetings focused on economic development, investment opportunities and improvement of infrastructure in Pakistan, a press release said. During his meeting with chief minister Gulbar Khan, Aleem Khan discussed the expansion of NHA in GB and its crucial role in regional development.
To further improve the infrastructure, Aleem Khan suggested the introduction of a toll for tourists, with raised funds dedicated to improving NHAS Vej infrastructure in the region. However, he assured that local residents would be exempt from this tax.
